ETFE-MFM

The ETFE-MFM project will develop, evaluate and demonstrate a flexible multifunctional Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) module for architectural façade lighting. The project will create a photovoltaic module with embedded additional functionalities to be used in ETFE textile architecture for Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) applications.

ETFE has huge potential, particularly in large public and commercial buildings, from both energy efficiency and design perspectives. The integration of lighting function into ETFE is increasingly popular in architectural usage, but consumes large amounts of energy, with high costs of operation. If the cost of lighting could be reduced, there could be increased take up of ETFE as an eco-friendly building material, for use in a variety of different building types.

ETFE-MFM will build a self-contained building module consisting of ETFE architecture, PV technology, illumination devices and flexible integrated circuits, to open up new sustainable architectural lighting possibilities. Overall, the project will provide a sustainable building module suitable for energy harvesting, glazing, lighting and acoustic and thermal insulation.